Steve Geller

Fantasy Football Playoffs Week 1: Sit 'Em, Start 'Em

by Steve Geller, Steve@wwl.com,posted Dec 7 2012 9:35AM

It's week 1 of Fantasy Football playoffs, and I hope you're team is clicking as we enter the most important part of the season.
Many won't be happy that there are some pretty big names on my sit list this week. Here goes...

SIT 'EM

Reggie Bush: Running Back, Miami Dolphins

Bush and his team are not playing well enough of late to make him a viable start. This week he faces an extremely stingy San Francisco defense that is ranked first against the run. We saw New England's solid front pose issues for Bush last week, and you have probably noted his inconsistent play if you have tried to start him. Over the first eleven games of the season, San Fran has only allowed about 12 fantasy points to RBs per game. If Bush splits any time with Thomas, which is highly likely, his value drops significantly in this scenario. Bush has received more of the workload recently, but this does not mean much in a struggling offense.

Larry Fitzgerald: Wide Receiver Arizona Cardinals

Fitzgerald is still a stud, unfortunately he's fallen victim to a quarterback shuffle that is not going well. Kolb, Skelton and now Lindley have not provided much opportunity for Fitz to get his game on. The last few weeks have been awful. Now Lindley faces Seattle's number two ranked defense against wide outs. Seattle allows an average of 17 total fantasy points to wide outs per game. Lindley is struggling to get the ball anywhere. He threw 10 completions of 31 passes for 72 yards and an interception vs. New York. Seattle is going to have a field day this week. Fitz grabbed one of seven targets last Sunday for 23 yards.

Vernon Davis: Tight End, San Francisco 49ers

Hopefully you dealt Davis away before your trade deadline or never drafted him to begin with. He has wreaked havoc on many a fantasy roster this season. After a three game slide, Davis finally threw some points his fantasy owners' directions in Week 11. He then turned around and did nada in Week 12, with a big fat goose egg. He only gained 15 yards on two receptions last week. This week the Niners play Miami, who are is middle of the pack defensively vs. TEs. Sorry to say if you're hoping that Davis is your answer for week 1 in the playoffs, he is not. Four of his five TDs came in Weeks 1-3.

START 'EM

Knowshon Moreno: Running Back, Denver Broncos

When Willis McGahee went down with injury, most people thought that the Broncos would give rookie Ronnie Hillman and veteran Lance Ball the first crack at McGahee's touches. Well, that never happened. Denver activated former first round pick Knowshon Moreno, and he has carried the load the last 2 games, rushing for 154 yards and catching 8 receptions for 40 yards. Not eye popping numbers, but you would be hard pressed to find another running back on your bench or waiver wire getting more touches than this. Add to that the fact that he has a good match-up this week vs. the Raiders.

Riley Cooper: Wide Receiver, Philadelphia Eagles

With DeSean Jackson done for the season due to injury, Riley Cooper was given the start last week and played the most snaps of any receiver. He caught 2 passes for 31 yards and a touchdown. Cooper will continue to start and continue to see targets, especially this week as the Eagles face Tampa Bay (the worst pass defense in the NFL, giving up 309.4 yards per game through the air). Foles and Cooper seem to have built up a good rapport from when both were practicing with the 2ndunit. Now they are both playing with the first unit. Watch Foles use Cooper as his go-to guy.

Dennis Pitta: Tight End, Baltimore Ravens

Tight end is always a tough spot to figure out who should start. Once you get past the Elite guys, the rest are basically a toss-up from week to week. This week Pitta has one of the best match ups, facing a Redskins defense giving up the 2nd most passing yards per game (299 yards). If you take away the two match ups vs. the Steelers, where he only caught 1 pass each game, Pitta has been fairly consistent. He has been putting up solid fantasy numbers on a week by week basis. While they won't blow you away, you can guarantee you will get some fantasy points; and with a match up like this, don't be surprised if he puts up a very big game. Just look at Martellus Bennett, who faced the Skins last week and put up the best numbers of the season, 5 catches for 82 yards and a touchdown.